The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2011 (VIS) - A press conference was held in the Holy See Press Office at 12.30 today to present "Youcat", the Catechism of the Catholic Church aimed at the young, prepared by participants in the XXVI World Youth Day to be held in Madrid from 16 to 21 August 2011.

The speakers at the conference were cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity; Christoph Schonborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna, Austria; archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation; Bernhard Meuser, promoter and editor of Youcat, and two young participants.

Cardinal Rylko commented that this catechism for young people has been translated into six languages, and 700,000 copies have been distributed. "It is a gift from the Holy Father to the young participants in World Youth Day".

Referring to the planned World Youth Day, the cardinal continued "It is not enough to make young people 'dream'; it is necessary also to help them grow well-rooted in the rich earth of Christian tradition. ... A real education in the faith of the young, therefore, must begin by freely proposing Christ to them. He is the solid rock upon which they may build their lives!"

He explained that "'Youcat' translates the content of the 'Catechism of the Catholic Church' rigorously and faithfully, and using language adapted to the young. It does not replace the Catechism, but rather, leads toward it, paving the way to the 'Catechism' and its 'Compendium'. It aims to guide the young toward a deeper knowledge of their faith".

Archbishop Fisichella emphasised that "'Youcat' answers a current need to present the content of the faith, professed by throughout time by Christians everywhere, in language that is simple, complete and above all accessible to the young".

One of the young people present explained that the name "Youcat" is a translation of the word "Ju-Kat", which corresponds to the abbreviation of the German "Jugend" (youth) and catechism.
OP/ VIS 20110413 (330)

4 comments:

This is the reason why it is so hard to take VIS seriously. No mention of the translation scandals? No assurances from the Vatican that everything will be done to correct the mistranslations? No assurance from the Vatican that it is still the Magisterium's job to protect the faithful from error?

Is Youcat a Catechism or not?, if so, why it is not available free in the Vatican Web with others?; if it is not a Catechism, why is called Catechism for Youth ?. Where there is not distiction there is confusion.

As a 72 year old Teenager, I am so proud and thankful to have my own copy of YOUCAT in English.It is beautifully produced and I think that all of us should be extremely grateful for this handy and easy to read and understand pocket size book.A real Treasure..Thank you Jesus!!!

There was some scandal dealing with the translation of the Italian edition of the YOUCAT and the criticism of the translation was well deserved since it suggested that contraception could be used within marriage. The english version does not have this problem as it addresses the question “May a Christian married couple regulate the number of children they have?” correctly in regards to Church teaching. As with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YOUCAT) was edited by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn. Here in the states the english version is put out by Ignatius Press.